Tessa Short, BMus, MMus (Director)

Tessa Short is a local singer, voice teacher, and choir conductor. She studied voice at Acadia University (BMus 2013), and choral conducting at Memorial University (MMus 2018). Tessa has been fortunate enough to work with a number of acclaimed conductors and teachers, including while part of the National Youth Choir of Canada (2012, 2014), and has a broad musical and artistic history to bring to her work. While most of her training has been in classical and operatic styles, Tessa grew up singing jazz and musical theatre and considers them valuable assets and lifelong loves. While in Newfoundland for school, Tessa sang at the Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Baptist and learned a great deal from the experience. She has been singing at Christ Church Dartmouth since the fall of 2018, and is very pleased to now be conducting the church’s choir full time. 

Joey Dowell, BMus (Organist and Pianist)

Joseph Dowell has been studying and playing piano in Halifax for most of his life. He is classically trained and followed the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) requirements to the ARCT level with honors. In 2011, Joseph received his piano performance degree at Dalhousie University. He received the Tietje Zonneveld scholarship in his third year and the following year received the William Tritt scholarship to participate in the Scotia Festival of Music’s Young Artists Program. After his undergrad he completed an additional year of advanced applied study and focused on piano pedagogy and collaborative piano. 

Joseph has performed many solo piano works over the years including Rachmaninoff's 2nd piano concerto with the Dalhousie orchestra, Haydn's Seven Last Words of Christ in concert, and many works by celebrated piano composers such as Bach, Scarlatti, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, and more. His favorites are romantic composers Liszt, Chopin, and Rachmaninoff. Joseph is the resident pianist for Saint Mary's University events and plays many solo pieces there. He also performs regularly at Christ Church Dartmouth as he is the pianist and organist there.

Joseph is versatile and enjoys making music with others.  He is currently an active collaborative pianist and has performed with professionals and students in many settings. This includes students of the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, Dalhousie University, the violin studio of Ms. Myonghae Yoon and students of the Suzuki Violin School. Recently he was resident pianist and ensemble performer in composer Sandy Moore's world premiere opera "Escape to Freedom" through Vocalypse Productions. He currently works as the pianist and organist for Christ Church Dartmouth as well as the Giocoso Community Choir in Halifax, NS. He was also the senior piano faculty member with the Halifax Music Co-Op (HMC) where he performed Faure's requiem on organ with orchestra and choir, and many other smaller works with the HMC Chorus and Starling choir. Joseph has performed many different styles of music including popular music, jazz, blues, showtunes, sacred music, and more.

Joseph is an active piano instructor and adapts his teaching styles depending on his students' needs and goals. He focuses on giving his students opportunities to perform with studio recitals throughout the year. He encourages his students to train for RCM examinations and to participate in music events like the Scotia Festival of Music and the Kiwanis Music Festival. His goal is to help students find love for music.